Hamilton County, IN Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors: Food Truck Permits (2026)

Hamilton County Code Chapter 7 (Retail Food Establishment Sanitation Requirements) applies to any establishment in the county that provides food for public consumption at any location or event, which covers mobile food units. Section 16-20-7-2 makes it unlawful to operate any food establishment without first obtaining a valid permit from the health officer. Permits are not transferable between owners or locations, a separate permit is required for each establishment, fees are not refunded for partial-year operation, and the standard permit term runs from January 1 (or the start of operation) through December 31 of the same year.

The Schedule C fee table in Section 16-20-1-27 sets the mobile food service establishment fee itself: a unit that must be physically transported to a commissary or servicing area at least daily for supplies, cleaning, and servicing pays $75.00 per vehicle if it sells only prepackaged food, or $125.00 per vehicle if it prepares or serves ready-to-eat food. Any food stored or prepared before retail service must come from a source that is separately permitted or inspected, so a truck cannot simply prep meals in an unlicensed home kitchen. Operators who open a new establishment without first securing a permit owe a $100.00 penalty in addition to all associated fees, and any permit fee not paid on time draws a late charge equal to 25 percent of the outstanding fee.

Applicants submit the health officer's application form and, for new facilities, properly prepared plans for review before construction or operation begins, per Section 16-20-7-2.